Simons Simplex Collection (SSC)

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld stepped into a minefield when he diagnosed himself as being on the autism spectrum – "on a very drawn out scale." He complained of problems with social engagement and understanding figures of speech. Were these faint whispers of autism he described similar to the Broad Autism Phenotype?

Most of us don't think twice about where to stand when talking to another person. We just know what's right. But for people with autism, this may not be automatic. They may stand too close to others and have other behaviors that are socially disabling.

Time was short. It was August, and we needed to prepare a "back to school" article for the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) website. We needed to talk to some experienced parents about how to prepare students with autism for a new school year. Who did we call?

Scientists often make discoveries by starting with a set of symptoms and looking for the cause. But some autism researchers worked in reverse: they began with a mutated gene and then looked for its symptoms. In so doing, they found a subtype of autism with its own traits.

Scientists have taken a close look at the protein-coding portion of the DNA of families in the SSC and have identified a number of genetic errors that are strong risk factors for autism. Scientists are making strides in the understanding of the biological origins of ASD in the developing brain.

People with autism and their families often wonder how they can help speed up research on the treatment of autism. The best way people can contribute is by participating in scientific research. Learn how.

A "surprising" number of teens with autism struggle with daily living skills — hygiene, riding a bus, shopping or preparing a meal — regardless of intelligence. Experts say it's important to focus on teaching such skills as a key to independence.

The road to adulthood officially begins for many teens when they graduate. But for people with autism, leaving high school is a more monumental step, one that will transform their relationship to services and supports.